Metis Told to Hunt Without Licences

Metis Told to Hunt Without Licences

Monday, September 13, 2004 at 15:45

Northern Affairs minister Buckley Belanger says Metis hunters are getting “bad advice” from the president of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan.

Dwayne Roth is urging Metis hunters to assert their hunting rights this fall, and even without an agreement with the provincial government.

Roth says Metis hunters have waited long enough for the province to work out a resource management arrangement with the Metis.

But Belanger says there is still work that needs to be done to fully understand the implications of last year’s Supreme Court ruling on Metis hunting.

Cumberland House mayor and Metis area director Dale McAuley says if there is an overkill of wildlife as a result, the provincial government will have only itself to blame for delaying negotiations.

Roth says Metis hunters will have to follow provisions outlined in the Metis Wildlife Act, which include bag limits and dates of hunting seasons.

He advises Metis hunters to pick up a copy of that document from their local Metis president.